John Butcher

John Butcher began playing saxophone in the mid 1970s, and within a few years was working in a number of jazz contexts (such as the BBC Award winning Chris Burn Group), and with contemporary dance and music theatre. In 1982 he completed a physics doctorate on the theoretical properties of charmed quarks and since leaving academia his playing has ranged through free improvisation, various structuring, his own compositions, work with tape, and multitracked recordings. His solo playing was featured in the 1997 BBC television series Date with an Artist.

His first LP was Fonetiks (1985) - a duo with pianist Chris Burn, whom he continues to work with in many contexts - especially the 11 piece Ensemble, for which he also makes pieces. In 1984 he began another long term commitment - a trio with Phil Durrant and John Russell - later adding Radu Malfatti and Paul Lovens to form News from the Shed. In 1987 he began running the record label ACTA, which now has 13 releases. He has released two solo CDs - 13 Friendly Numbers and London and Cologne. which include short multitracked saxophone pieces - an ongoing project.

In general his playing is split between solo work, long term groups and occasional meetings. A selection of activity includes three of Derek Bailey's Company Weeks - the final version of John Stevens' Spontaneous Music Ensemble - Frisque Concordance with Georg Graewe - Butch Morris' London Skyscraper, Fred van Hove's t'nonet, a trio with Derek Bailey and Joelle Leandre, and The Phil Minton Quartet's mouthfull of ecstasy. Numerous duos have included concerts with Steve Beresford, Gino Robair, Georg Graewe, Carlos Zingaro, Evan Parker, Vanessa Mackness, Derek Bailey, Kevin Drumm, Gerry Hemingway, and Fred Frith.

Some particular current projects include an electromanipulation duo with Phil Durrant, a duo with bassist John Edwards, a trio with drummer Gino Robair and bassist Matthew Sperry, a trio with EX guitarist Andy Moor and synthesist Thomas Lehn, a trio with clarinettist Xavier Charles and trumpeter Axel Doerner, the Austrian new-music group Polwecshel and a quartet with harpist Rhodri Davies, Chris Burn and John Edwards.

Further information about John Butcher can be found under: www.shef.ac.uk/misc/rec/ps/efi/mbutcher.html

Photo: Susan O'Connor